Garbage can &amp; support for use with disposable bags

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for releasably supporting a liner, such as a trash bag or laundry bag, within a container, such as a trash can or laundry basket. The apparatus includes a body and a base. The base includes a top opening and a bottom opening, with the area of the top opening being less than the area of the bottom opening. Additionally, the body gradually slopes inward from the bottom opening to the top opening. The body is configured to receive a liner, which removably fits inside the body to protect the body from direct contact with soiled objects. The liner is longer in length than the body to allow the liner to wrap around the top opening of the body. The base releasably attaches to the body at the bottom opening. The inner surface of the base supports a bottom of the liner. The apparatus protects the liner from puncture when the body is inserted into the liner before being filled. The method includes inserting the bottom opening into an opening of the liner, gathering the opening of the liner and sides of the liner about the bottom opening of the body, attaching a base to the bottom opening with a securing device, securing the liner to a lower portion of the body, filling the body with objects, and when filled, removing the base to cause the objects to fill the liner.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/561,969 entitled “Easy Empty Trash/Garbage Receptacle” and filedon Apr. 14, 2004 for Jack D. Fisher.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to storage containers. More particularly, theinvention relates to containers that facilitate the removal of liners,such as trash bags, within the container and that protect the liner fromtearing and punctures.

2. Description of the Related Art

When utilizing a garbage can to support a plastic garbage bag having aperipheral end portion folded over the top edge of the can, the baggenerally adheres to the sidewall of the can even when it is onlypartially loaded. It is thus often difficult to withdraw the bag due tothe adherence thereof to the can sidewall as well as to the vacuum whichis created between the bottom of the bag and that of the can when thebag is pulled out of the can. On the other hand, one can hardly dowithout a garbage can or the like to support a garbage bag since the bagitself has no body as such and is therefore not self-supporting, andwithout external support the bag can be loaded only with greatdifficulty.

Moreover, when using the bags outdoors for the disposal of scrap piecesof wood, small rocks, and the like, particular care must be taken duringthe loading in order to prevent such sharp objects from piercing thebags. In addition, the presence of sharp objects does not permit thegarbage to be compressed inside the bag since otherwise the latter wouldpierce, thus resulting in one not being able to load the bag to its fullcapacity. The same also applies to indoor use as household rubbishgenerally includes sharp items such as pizza boxes, broken glass, opencans, and the like.

Many garbage cans have attempted to overcome the deficiencies above withgarbage cans that incorporate air tubes, or air holes to decrease theamount of vacuum created when one pulls the trash bag from the garbagecan. Others have created collapsible garbage cans that unwrap from thegarbage bag. These garbage cans suffer from additional deficiencies.First, holes formed into the garbage cans decrease the garbage canstrength and liquids and smells may begin to seep therefrom. Secondly,collapsible garbage cans lack the structural integrity to adequatelyhold trash bags at full capacity as the collapsible garbage cans mayunintentionally unwrap. Bag support devices have also been used toprotect garbage bags from punctures. The bag support devices have beendescribed as taller than the garbage bags, they use awkward, elongatedhandles, and because the garbage bag is pulled over the entire length ofthe bag support device, the garbage bag is still left unprotected fromexternal hazards, such as bushes, shrubs, thorns, etc.

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need existsfor an apparatus and method that facilitates the removal and protectionof a liner from the container. Additionally, there is a need for a morestable apparatus that is easier to clean, has a greater capacity andthat can capture spills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable liner supports. Accordingly, the present invention has beendeveloped to provide an apparatus and method for releasably providingliner support that overcome many or all of the above-discussedshortcomings in the art.

The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to releasably support aliner. The apparatus includes a body and a base. The base includes a topopening and a bottom opening, with the area of the top opening beingless than the area of the bottom opening, which advantageously enhancesthe stability of the apparatus. Further, because top opening is smallerthan the base, advantageously, material spilled on the outside surfaceof the apparatus will be more likely to rest in the base, instead of onthe floor around the apparatus. For example, a liquid would flow downthe exterior surface of the apparatus to the base instead of dripping onthe floor.

Additionally, the body gradually slopes inward from the bottom openingto the top opening. The body is configured to receive the liner, whichincludes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a bottom.Advantageously, the apparatus may provide for easy removal of the liner,wherein separation of the apparatus from the liner does not involvesignificant vacuum forces as in conventional trash cans and liners. Inone embodiment, the liner removably fits inside the body to protect thebody from direct contact with soiled objects. This advantageously allowsone to fit considerably more material inside the apparatus bycompressing the material with forces which may otherwise damage theliner. This adds a further advantage wherein fewer liners are needed forthe same amount of material. The liner is longer in length than the bodyto allow the liner to wrap around the top opening of the body. The basereleasably attaches to the body at the bottom opening, whichadvantageously makes the apparatus easier to clean, avoiding odors,germs, and pests, an advantage especially important for uses such as inhospitals. The inner surface of the base supports the bottom of theliner.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured to store trash. The bodymay be any shape or size, and may include a lid. Clips may be used toattach the liner to the body.

The apparatus, in another embodiment, is advantageously configured toprotect the liner from puncture. Specifically, the body protects theliner from puncture when the bottom opening is inserted into the linerfirst. The base attaches to the body, thus trapping the liner betweenthe base and a lower lip of the body. Securing devices hold the liner ina generally fixed zone about the body to prevent the liner from snaggingtwigs, limbs, etc. Additionally, the handles remain uncovered to alloweasy movement of the apparatus.

A method of the present invention is also presented for providingsupport to the liner. In one embodiment, the method includes providing abody with a top opening having less area than a bottom opening, the bodygradually sloping from the bottom opening to the top opening, insertingthe bottom opening into an opening of the garbage bag, gathering theopening of the garbage bag and sides of the garbage bag about the bottomopening of the body, attaching a base to the bottom opening with asecuring device, securing the garbage bag and sides of the garbage bagto a lower portion of the body, filling the body with objects, whenfilled, removing the base and letting contents drop into the liner, andremoving the body from the liner.

The method may also include the step of securing the garbage bag sidesto the lower portion of the body with the same securing device that isused to attach the base to the body.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention can be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an exploded, front, and perspective view of anapparatus for supporting a liner according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate side views of apparatus bases according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate an exploded, front, and perspective view of anapparatus for supporting a liner with a wheel assembly according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate an exploded, front, and perspective view of anapparatus for supporting a liner with another embodiment of a wheelassembly;

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate an exploded, front, and perspective view of anapparatus for supporting a liner having an octagonal shape according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate an exploded, front, and perspective view of arectangular shaped apparatus for supporting a liner according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate an exploded, front, and perspective view of anapparatus for supporting a liner, which opens from a side to expose theliner according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate an exploded, front, and perspective view of anapparatus for supporting a liner, which splits in half to expose theliner according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate a method of removing a body of the apparatus tofill the liner according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate a method of using a body of the apparatus toprotect the liner according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areprovided, such as examples of programming, software modules, userselections, network transactions, database queries, database structures,hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide athorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can bepracticed without one or more of the specific details, or with othermethods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FIGS. 1A-1C depict an apparatus 10 for supporting a liner 22, such as atrash bag or a laundry bag. The apparatus 10 may be used to store anykind of object or material such as trash, laundry, leaves, rocks, dirt,branches, etc. Accordingly, the apparatus 10 may be a trash can, alaundry basket, or a storage bin, or other type of container. Forexplanation purposes, and not to be taken as limiting in itsapplication, the apparatus 10 will be described as a trash can 10 forstoring trash, generally, trash commonly removed from a home or yard.

In one embodiment, the trash can 10 comprises a body 12, a base 14, anda cover, or lid 16. The body 12 includes a top opening 18 and a bottomopening 20 with the area of the top opening 18 being less than the areaof the bottom opening 20. The body 12 gradually slopes inward from thebottom opening 20 to the top opening 18 to create a funnel, or conicalshaped body 12. A bottom lip 21 does not slope inwardly towards the topopening 18. Rather, the bottom lip 21 runs perpendicular to the base 14to allow the base 14 to easily fit over the bottom lip 21. Similarly, atop lip 23 does not slope outwardly towards the bottom opening 20.Rather, the top lip 23 runs perpendicular to the lid 16 to allow the lid16 to easily fit over the top lip 23.

The body 12 slopes inward from the bottom opening 20 to the top opening18 at more than 90 degrees, with respect to a horizontal axis of thebase 14. Preferably, the body 12 slopes inward at approximately 110degrees.

The body 12 is configured to receive a liner 22. The liner 22 includesan outer surface 24, an inner surface 26, and a bottom 28. The liner 22removably fits inside the body 12 to protect the body 12 from directcontact with soiled objects. To allow the liner 22 to fold over the body12, the body 12 should be shorter, in length, than the length of theliner 22. In one embodiment, a liner securing device, such as a seriesof clips 25, attached to an outer surface of the body 12, releasablysecure upper edges of the liner 22 to the body 12. In operation, a userpulls the liner 22 between the clips 25 and the body 12 to hold theliner 22 thereto. One skilled in the art will recognize that there arenumerous methods and devices for securing the liner 22 to the body 12.

The base 14 releasably attaches to the body 12 at the bottom opening 20.In one embodiment, securing devices 32 secure the base 14 to the body12. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing devices 32 extendperpendicular to the base 14 a predetermined distance. The securingdevices 32, of this embodiment, are designed to flex over the bottom lip21 of the body 12, slide over the bottom lip 21, and enter slots 36 tohold the base 14 to the body 12. It is recognized, however, that thesecuring devices 32 may be incorporated directly into side walls 38 ofthe base 14, rather than extending perpendicular therefrom. When thebase 14 is attached to the body 12, an inner surface 30 of the base 12supports the bottom 28 of the liner 22 to prevent it from ripping whenloaded.

In one embodiment, the base 14 comprises at least one foot rest (notshown) protruding outward from the base 14 to allow the user to stand onthe foot rest while the user lifts the body 12 therefrom.Advantageously, the user is not required to bend down and release thebase 14 from the body 12.

The lid 16 is designed to removably attach to the body 12 to maintainthe objects within the trash can 10 and prevent odors from escapingtherefrom. The lid 16 may include a handle to facilitate removal of thelid 16, and the lid may be secured to the body 12 with securing devices32.

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate the base 14 having various embodiments ofsecuring devices 32. Each base includes a handle 40. Referring to FIGS.2A-2B, as described above with respect to FIG. 1, the securing devices32 extend perpendicular to the base 14 a predetermined distance. Thesecuring devices 32, of this embodiment, are designed to flex over thebottom lip 21 (See FIG. 1) of the body 12, slide over the bottom lip 21,and enter slots 36 (See FIG. 1) to hold the base 14 to the body 12. Thesecuring devices 32 of FIG. 2A include foot latches 42, which allow theuser to step on top of the foot latch 42 to release the securing devicefrom the slots 36. Additionally, the securing devices 32 maybe hingedly,pivotably, or rotatably attached to the base 14 to allow the user todisengage the securing devices 32 from the body 12 and move the securingdevices 32 away from the body 12 to facilitate the removal of the base14 from the body 12.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the securing device 32 is a buckle type deviceconfigured to latch onto the body 12. Specifically, hoops 44 rotatablyconnect to the base 14 and attach to posts (not shown) on the body 12.The hoops 44 may be tightened using well known buckle techniques.

Referring to FIG. 2D, the base 14 is configured to form a tight frictionfit with the body 12. The body 12 fits into the base 14 and frictionprevents the body12 and the base 14 from separating until the user pullsthe two pieces apart.

Referring to FIG. 2E, the base 14 includes threads 46 to screw onto thebody 12. The threads 46 may be internal or external, depending on thethreads on the body 12.

FIGS. 3A-4C illustrate trash cans 10 having an optional wheel assemblyto facilitate movement thereof according to various embodiments of thepresent invention. Specifically referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, a wheel base48 removably attaches to a bottom 50 of the base 14. The wheel base 48,in the illustrated embodiment, includes a post and a pair of wheels 52connected together via a single axel 56. The axel 56 connects to thewheel base 48 through a pair of axel blocks 58.

The wheel base 48 of FIGS. 4A-4C comprises a plurality of swivel wheels60. The swivel wheels 60 connect to the wheel base 48 with well knownattachment devices. One skilled in the art will recognize that there arevarious wheel configurations available.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate other embodiments of the liner supportingapparatus 10. Specifically, FIGS. 5A-5C show the trash can 10 having anoctagonal shape and the trash can 10 of FIGS. 6A-6C show the trash can10 having a rectangular shape. One skilled in the art will recognizethat the illustrated embodiments are not intended to be limiting. Ratherone skilled in the art will recognize that there are innumerable shapesand sizes of trash cans 10 that can be used.

FIGS. 7A-8C illustrate the apparatus 10 being configured to open tofacilitate removal of the liner 22 from the body 12. Specifically, FIGS.7A-7C show the body 12 configured to open on a side 62 to expose theinner side of the body 12. A securing device 64 may be used to hold thebody 12 closed. The body 12, in this embodiment, comprises a flexiblematerial to allow the user to spread the sides 62 of the body 12 open.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8C, the body 12 is configured to split in half toreveal the contents of the body 12. Each half piece hingedly connects tothe base 14.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate the process for removing the liner 22 from thebody 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referringspecifically to Figure 9A, the liner 22 is positioned inside the trashcan 10 with the liner 22 extending from the top opening 18, wrappedaround the top lip 23, and secured to the body with clips 25.

Referring now to FIGS. 9B and 9C, the user removes the lid 16 and pullsthe body 12 from the base 14. Due to the conical shape of the body 12, aslight vertical movement of the body 12 from the base 14 substantiallyfrees the liner 22 from contacting an entire inner surface of the body.Advantageously, the liner 22 becomes substantially disengaged from thebody 12 with very little effort by the user, which decreases frictionalforces and negative pressure forces common with standard trash cans.Specifically, with standard trash cans the user is required to pull theentire trash bag from the trash can. Accordingly, the trash bag rubsagainst the trash can the entire length of the trash can. Additionally,the negative pressure in a void behind the trash bag makes removaldifficult.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate a method of using the apparatus 10 to supportand protect the liner 22 when filling the liner 22 with objects that maycause damage thereto according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The body 12 is placed inside the liner 22 and the liner 22 isslightly pulled over the bottom opening 20 of the body 12. The userattaches the base 14 to the body 12. Preferably, the securing means 32hold the liner 22 below the handles to allow the user to carry theapparatus 10 without risk of grabbing the liner 22 and possibly causingtears or punctures. The user fills the body 12 with the intendedobjects, and when full, releases the securing devices 32 to disengagethe base 14 therefrom. With the base 14 removed, the objects inside thebody 12 drop and pull the liner 22 from the body 12, thus transferringthe objects from the body 12 to the liner 22. Preferably, clips 25 holdupper portions of the liner 22 until the user disengages the upperportions therefrom.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. An apparatus to releasably support a liner, the apparatus comprising:a body having a top opening and a bottom opening, the area of the topopening being less than the area of the bottom opening, and the bodygradually sloping inward from the bottom opening to the top opening, thebody configured to receive a liner, wherein the liner is longer inlength than the body; and a base releasably attachable to the body atthe bottom opening, an inner surface of the base configured to providesupport to a bottom of the liner.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe body is conical-shaped.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a lid releasably attachable to the body at the top opening.4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising clips attached to anouter surface of the body, configured to secure upper edges of the linerto the body.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body attaches tothe base via clasps.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bodyscrews onto the base to the secure the body to the base.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the body attaches to the base viafriction.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises atleast one foot rest protruding outward from the base, configured toallow a user to stand on the foot rest while the user lifts the bodytherefrom.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body angles inwardon the outside surface, from the bottom opening to the top opening, atmore than 90 degrees, with respect to the base.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the body angles on the outside surface inward at about110 degrees with respect to the base.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the liner holds laundry.
 12. An apparatus to protect and supporta liner, comprising: a body having a top opening and a bottom opening,the area of the top opening being less than the area of the bottomopening, the body configured to be inserted into a liner, bottom endfirst; a base, releasably attached to the bottom opening of the body,configured to hold the liner between the base and a bottom lip of thebody; and a securing device for attaching the base to the body, whereinthe attaching device is configured to contain the liner within a zone ofthe body.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises handles attached to the body, and wherein the handles remainaccessible even with the liner attached to the body.
 14. The apparatusof claim 12, wherein the body is cone-shaped.
 15. The apparatus of claim12, further comprising clips attached to an outer surface of the body,configured to secure upper edges of the trash bag to the body.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein the securing device is selected from thegroup consisting of clasps, friction, and screws.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the base comprises at least one foot rest protrudingoutward from the base, configured to allow a user to stand on the footrest while the user lifts the body therefrom.
 18. The apparatus of claim12, wherein the body angles inward from the bottom opening to the topopening at more than 90 degrees with respect to the base.
 19. A methodfor using an apparatus to support and protect a liner comprising thesteps of: providing a body with a top opening and a bottom opening;inserting the bottom opening into an opening of the liner; gathering theopening of the liner and sides of the liner about the bottom opening ofthe body; attaching a base to the bottom opening with a securing device;securing the liner and sides of the liner to a lower portion of thebody; filling the body with objects; when filled, removing the base andallowing the objects to move from the body to the liner; and removingthe body from inside of the liner.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinthe sides of the liner are secured to the lower portion of the body withthe same securing device that is used to attach the base to the body.